Short C’ssion report: Gov’t rejects recommendation for Police Complaints Unit

Government says it cannot accept a recommendation from the Emile Short Commission for an independent police complaints unit to be set up to deal with complaints from the public on police conduct.

The Commission, in its report said the Complaints Unit, will ensure police accountability.

However Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said government cannot accept this recommendation because there are other private bodies, including the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, carrying out similar duties.

“We find that our constitution makes very clear for independent bodies to examine prosecutorial conduct and administrative justice issues. That is the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice. It is a constitutionally mandated independent body that exists and it has not come in for question about their capability or competence to do a job like this and therefore the government is of the view that, that job is done by CHRAJ.

“There are already enough bodies in our system that can tackle that. There is CHRAJ, and other judicial bodies that can exercise judicial review over police conduct so government does not share the view that another independent body should tackle complaints from the public.”

The Emile Short Commission of Inquiry was, among other things, mandated “to make a full, faithful and impartial inquiry into the circumstances of, and establish the facts leading to the events and associated violence that occurred during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.”

The Commission took testimonies of principal witnesses in the matter including the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George; the Commander of the National Security SWAT team, DSP Samuel Azugu; and the then NDC Parliamentary candidate, Delali Kwasi Brempong.

The Commission interviewed over 20 other witnesses and persons of interest over a three-week period.